Ambassador Verveer: Women’s Equality = Economic Power

In a speech at the Sea Service Leadership Association’s 24th Annual Women’s Leadership Symposium, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer addressed the conference’s theme: “connect, empower, succeed”. Although she noted that the struggle for gender equality is not over, she noted encouraging evidence in favor of empowering women.

“The World Economic Forum’s annual gender gap report found that in those countries where the gender gap is closer to being closed — where men and women are closer to parity in educational attainment, health outcomes, economic opportunity and political empowerment — these countries are more prosperous and economically competitive.”